Sales of real estate in the Greater Victoria area softened last month though prices for single family homes and townhomes showed little change. The average price for condominiums moderated somewhat. A total of 616 homes and other properties sold in July through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) compared to the 723 sales in June. Going back a year to July of 2007 we had 922 sales.
Bill Ethier of Properties In Victoria Professionals, notes that today’s balanced market and a larger inventory of real estate for sale give buyers more choice and flexibility. The number of properties available for sale increased modestly from the previous month rising to 4,557. That represents a 34% increase compared to July of last year and inventory now stands at the highest level since May, 1998.
Bill notes that prices remain stable through out the Victoria Real Estate Area. The overall average price of single family homes and townhomes showed little movement last month. The average price of single family homes in Greater Victoria real estate area last month was $578,177; the six-month average was $596,659 though the median was lower at $529,900. On the more so prestigious side, there was eighteen single family homes sold for over $1 million, including three sales on the Gulf Islands.
Let’s look at the rest of the real estate; the average price of all townhomes sold last month was $454,918 and the six month average was $435,786. The median price for townhomes was $417,450.
The overall average price for condominiums at $302,536 moderated last month, the lowest monthly average since May, 2007. This is not uncommon for this time of year since a lot of parents are purchasing condos for their kids to attend collage and university and these condominiums seem to be on the lower end of the price scale. The average for the last six months was $324,583 showing little change from the $326,904 six month average at the beginning of the year. The median price for condominiums in July was $285,000.
MLS® sales last month included 359 single family homes, 168 condominiums, 52 townhomes and 10 manufactured homes.
Here are the Victoria real estate summary Report and Graphs for your convenience
Victoria BC Real Estate Monthly Sales Summary
Victoria BC Real Estate Average Selling Price Graphs
Victoria BC Real Estate Active Listings, New Listings and Sales Graphs
These documents are stored in PDF format. If your browser already has a PDF plug-in like the Adobe Acrobat® Reader, you’ll probably be able to simply click on the document you’re interested in to view it here online. You can download and install this popular, free software download here.
To Stay on top of the local Victoria Real Estate Market, subscribe to our free on line News Letter.
Cheers,Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
Showing posts with label lawyer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lawyer. Show all posts
Friday, 8 August 2008
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Victoria BC Real Estate - New Tools to Help Buyers Navigate Through Presales
Homebuyers are Given a New Tool to Help Them With Presales of Real Estate
Buying real estate can be very stressful for many people and buying real estate that has not yet been built can be even more stressful. It also come with some risks. The disclosure statement that the developer gives you, most of the time allows the developer to do changes, and even cancel the project if they do not get enough presales. We always recommend that you have your lawyer read the disclosure statement and discuss the details with you.
This applies to all types of real estate that is presold; from a small bachelor suite to a prestigious penthouse, so talk to us or your favourite lawyer before taking the plunge.
The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC (CHBA BC) and the Urban Development Institute (UDI) are pleased to introduce a new tool to assist homebuyers in the purchase of homes under development, also known as presales.
“Over the years, thousands of British Columbians have entered into contracts to buy new homes before the construction of their homes had begun or during the construction period,” said BCREA President Scott Veitch. “The Presale Cross Reference List helps ensure homebuyers are aware of the unique considerations involved in purchasing these properties.”
The Presale Cross Reference List is intended as a starting point for homebuyers to determine whether enquiries, advice or clarification is needed when navigating the purchase of a home in a multifamily development under construction. Buyers unfamiliar with such projects may require extensive consultation with knowledgeable professionals who have experience with presale investments.“Presales are an excellent vehicle for purchasers to buy a new home and often result in cost savings for the purchaser. However, as with any investment, consumers need to understand what the opportunities and risks are to make an informed decision,” said Maureen Enser, UDI Executive Director.
“CHBA BC is pleased to partner with BCREA and UDI and be a part of this great tool that will assist REALTORS® in disseminating reliable information about presales to consumers who purchase products that our members build,” added M.J. Whitemarsh, CHBA BC Chief Executive Officer. “This joint effort is the culmination of extensive work by industry to enhance consumer confidence and further raise the bar of professionalism within residential construction.”
For the complete article please folow this link: http://www.bcrea.bc.ca/news_room/2008-07-24Presales.pdf.
If you are thinking of buying into the presale market in Victoria or have questions in general about real estate in Victoria Bc please do not hesitate to contact us.
Cheers,Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
Buying real estate can be very stressful for many people and buying real estate that has not yet been built can be even more stressful. It also come with some risks. The disclosure statement that the developer gives you, most of the time allows the developer to do changes, and even cancel the project if they do not get enough presales. We always recommend that you have your lawyer read the disclosure statement and discuss the details with you.
This applies to all types of real estate that is presold; from a small bachelor suite to a prestigious penthouse, so talk to us or your favourite lawyer before taking the plunge.
The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA), the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC (CHBA BC) and the Urban Development Institute (UDI) are pleased to introduce a new tool to assist homebuyers in the purchase of homes under development, also known as presales.
“Over the years, thousands of British Columbians have entered into contracts to buy new homes before the construction of their homes had begun or during the construction period,” said BCREA President Scott Veitch. “The Presale Cross Reference List helps ensure homebuyers are aware of the unique considerations involved in purchasing these properties.”
The Presale Cross Reference List is intended as a starting point for homebuyers to determine whether enquiries, advice or clarification is needed when navigating the purchase of a home in a multifamily development under construction. Buyers unfamiliar with such projects may require extensive consultation with knowledgeable professionals who have experience with presale investments.“Presales are an excellent vehicle for purchasers to buy a new home and often result in cost savings for the purchaser. However, as with any investment, consumers need to understand what the opportunities and risks are to make an informed decision,” said Maureen Enser, UDI Executive Director.
“CHBA BC is pleased to partner with BCREA and UDI and be a part of this great tool that will assist REALTORS® in disseminating reliable information about presales to consumers who purchase products that our members build,” added M.J. Whitemarsh, CHBA BC Chief Executive Officer. “This joint effort is the culmination of extensive work by industry to enhance consumer confidence and further raise the bar of professionalism within residential construction.”
For the complete article please folow this link: http://www.bcrea.bc.ca/news_room/2008-07-24Presales.pdf.
If you are thinking of buying into the presale market in Victoria or have questions in general about real estate in Victoria Bc please do not hesitate to contact us.
Cheers,Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
Monday, 23 June 2008
Victoria BC - Real Estate Update: Highers Costs Affecting the Real Estate Market
Fuel and Food Prices Impacting Real Estate.
As gasoline prices continues to rise, driving up the costs of food and other staple products discretionary buying will slow, and we are starting to see it. Car sales are falling and now it looks like secondary/vacation homes are starting to take a hit. In Victoria BC we are seeing a definite slow down in the market, but feel with such a strong economy and a very desirable place to live the slow down will be limited. Please read the article below from Cam Muir the BC Real Estate Association chief economist.
British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports residential sales dollar volume on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in BC declined 27 per cent to $3.85 billion in May, compared to May 2007. Residential unit sales fell 31 per cent to 8,101 units during the same period. The average MLS® residential price in the province reached $475,656, up 6 per cent from May 2007.
“Rising fuel and food prices are impacting the housing market, as many potential homebuyers take a wait and see approach out of concern for their household budgets,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist.
While BC has one of the best performing economies in the country, slower economic growth and a spate of bad news stemming from the US housing recession is also eroding consumer confidence, causing some consumers to delay major purchases.
“Despite strong demographic fundamentals, amenity markets in the province are bearing the brunt of reduced demand as second home purchases by recreation and investor buyers are more easily delayed,” added Muir. “However, higher inventory levels may soon edge lower as homes priced in relation to the accelerating conditions of the past are either pulled off the market or re-priced and sold according to today’s market realities.” For the remainder of the article please log onto http://www.bcrea.bc.ca/news_room/2008-05.pdf
Please contact us if you would like more information on the market here in Victoria BC and visit our website and log onto Victoria Market update to stay informed on current trends.
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
As gasoline prices continues to rise, driving up the costs of food and other staple products discretionary buying will slow, and we are starting to see it. Car sales are falling and now it looks like secondary/vacation homes are starting to take a hit. In Victoria BC we are seeing a definite slow down in the market, but feel with such a strong economy and a very desirable place to live the slow down will be limited. Please read the article below from Cam Muir the BC Real Estate Association chief economist.
British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports residential sales dollar volume on the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in BC declined 27 per cent to $3.85 billion in May, compared to May 2007. Residential unit sales fell 31 per cent to 8,101 units during the same period. The average MLS® residential price in the province reached $475,656, up 6 per cent from May 2007.
“Rising fuel and food prices are impacting the housing market, as many potential homebuyers take a wait and see approach out of concern for their household budgets,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist.
While BC has one of the best performing economies in the country, slower economic growth and a spate of bad news stemming from the US housing recession is also eroding consumer confidence, causing some consumers to delay major purchases.
“Despite strong demographic fundamentals, amenity markets in the province are bearing the brunt of reduced demand as second home purchases by recreation and investor buyers are more easily delayed,” added Muir. “However, higher inventory levels may soon edge lower as homes priced in relation to the accelerating conditions of the past are either pulled off the market or re-priced and sold according to today’s market realities.” For the remainder of the article please log onto http://www.bcrea.bc.ca/news_room/2008-05.pdf
Please contact us if you would like more information on the market here in Victoria BC and visit our website and log onto Victoria Market update to stay informed on current trends.
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
Friday, 6 June 2008
Greater Victoria Real Estate - Buyers Have More Real Estate Options
Great Victoria Area has more Choices for Buyers of Real Estate
With a return to a balanced real estate market, home buyers in the Victoria area now have a much larger pool of properties from which to choose. The number of properties available for sale increased to 4,332 in May - a 25 % increase over the same month a year ago and the highest level since June 1998.
Victoria Real Estate Board President, notes that despite this increase, prices and sales remain stable although the number of sales is down compared to a year ago. "There was a total of 770 sales of homes and other properties in May through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), virtually unchanged from the 768 sales in April but down from the 963 sales in May of last year." The board noted that a significant number of new properties came on the market last month: "There were 1,850 new listings in May - the highest number for a single month in over 18-years". The board added that 24 sales over $1 million had an impact on the overall average price of single family homes in Greater Victoria which last month was $601,897; the six-month average was $606,985 though median was considerably lower at $545,000. There were also three sales on the Gulf Islands of over $1 million.
The average price of all condominiums sold in May was $336,157; the average for the last six months was $333,208. The median was again lower at $295,500. The average price of all townhomes sold last month was $435,058; the six month average was $433,854. The median price was $394,900.
MLS® sales last month included 470 single family homes, 168 condominiums, 71 townhomes and 25 manufactured homes.
Summary Report and Graphs
Monthly Sales Summary
Average Selling Price Graphs
Active Listings, New Listings and Sales Graphs
For more information on the real estate here in Victoria please feel free to contact the Properties in Victoria Professionals team
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
With a return to a balanced real estate market, home buyers in the Victoria area now have a much larger pool of properties from which to choose. The number of properties available for sale increased to 4,332 in May - a 25 % increase over the same month a year ago and the highest level since June 1998.
Victoria Real Estate Board President, notes that despite this increase, prices and sales remain stable although the number of sales is down compared to a year ago. "There was a total of 770 sales of homes and other properties in May through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®), virtually unchanged from the 768 sales in April but down from the 963 sales in May of last year." The board noted that a significant number of new properties came on the market last month: "There were 1,850 new listings in May - the highest number for a single month in over 18-years". The board added that 24 sales over $1 million had an impact on the overall average price of single family homes in Greater Victoria which last month was $601,897; the six-month average was $606,985 though median was considerably lower at $545,000. There were also three sales on the Gulf Islands of over $1 million.
The average price of all condominiums sold in May was $336,157; the average for the last six months was $333,208. The median was again lower at $295,500. The average price of all townhomes sold last month was $435,058; the six month average was $433,854. The median price was $394,900.
MLS® sales last month included 470 single family homes, 168 condominiums, 71 townhomes and 25 manufactured homes.
Summary Report and Graphs
Monthly Sales Summary
Average Selling Price Graphs
Active Listings, New Listings and Sales Graphs
For more information on the real estate here in Victoria please feel free to contact the Properties in Victoria Professionals team
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
Victoria BC - Real Estate: Billion Dollar Colwood Development Receives City Approval to Move Forward
There is some feeling out there with regards to a downturn in new construction; however, you may want to rethink that position if you are holding this position. The city of Colwood about 15 minutes from Victoria has given approval for a billion dollar development. For further information please read the article below from Tartan Publications.
Victoria, British Columbia - The City of Colwood has given fourth and final reading of a bylaw which will permit City Centre Colwood, the $1-billion development on 13 acres on the West Shore of Vancouver Island, to proceed. The project when completed will include over 3.5 million square feet of commercial, residential and amenity space and will give the region a new city centre."City Centre Colwood will be a contemporary work and live place on a scale never before achieved in the Greater Victoria area," said developer Les Bjola of Turner Lane Development Corporation. "It will have a significant impact on economic growth in the region, attracting new companies and residents from across our country and others. We plan to achieve the highest standards in social, economic and environmental sustainability in this progressive new community."
When completed, the development will include new office and residential buildings, a shopping, dining and entertainment district, and substantial underground parking. The on-site work/live population will have easy access to public transportation, pedestrian ways and major highways.
"Our goal is to create a modern, urban centre which will meet the needs of the community and the growing interest in the West Shore - something of which we can all be proud," said Les Bjola. "We already know people want the type of lifestyle Island-living provides, and attracting new companies will bring the employment opportunities which will allow people to live, work and play here."
The development will include a mix of low and high-rise buildings, which will be built in phases with construction expected to start early next year.
"We are experiencing a great deal of interest in this project from British Columbia and beyond," said Adam Gant, CEO of League Assets, the company managing the financing for the development. "The vision for this project is spectacular and investors are recognizing long-term benefit of doing something different in this community."
Over the past 18 months, Bjola and his project team have undertaken an intensive public consultation process to gather input from community members and stakeholders that included surveys, open houses and public meetings. The culmination of this process was the final approval of the bylaw by the City of Colwood council last night.
For more information on real estate in the Great Victoria area please do not hesitate to contact us
CheersBill
Bill EthierB.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Victoria Real Estate - More Properties for Sale in Victoria BC
Real estate buyers in the Victoria area have a growing number of properties from which to choose. The total number of properties available for sale rose to 3,591 in March - a 17 per cent increase over March of last year. Victoria Real Estate Board President, Tony Joe, says the return to a balanced market is good news for both buyers and sellers. "With more properties available for sale, buyers now have a greater choice, but the continued demand for homes and steady prices mean sellers can anticipate strong interest in properties that are realistically priced." There were 707 sales through the Victoria Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in March, down from the 833 sales in the same month a year ago but up 14 per cent from the 619 sales in February.
Joe added that prices remained steady last month, "Twenty-eight per cent of single family homes sold for under $450,000 while nearly 36 per cent of condominiums sold for under $275,000." At the higher end of the market, Joe noted that there were 20 sales in Greater Victoria and two sales on the Gulf Islands of over $1 million.
The average price of single family homes sold in March in Greater Victoria was $597,176; the median price was lower at $529,625. The six-month average for single family homes was $591,439. The average price of all condominiums sold in March was $328,734; the average for the last six months was $332,552. The median was again lower at $300,000. The average price of all townhomes sold last month was $458,378; the six month average was $437,523. The median price was $411,500.
MLS® sales last month included 407 single family homes, 170 condominiums, 68 townhomes and 16 manufactured homes.
For more information on these statistics feel free to contact us of visit www.PropertiesinVictoria.com and click on Victoria Real Estate Market Update.
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
Joe added that prices remained steady last month, "Twenty-eight per cent of single family homes sold for under $450,000 while nearly 36 per cent of condominiums sold for under $275,000." At the higher end of the market, Joe noted that there were 20 sales in Greater Victoria and two sales on the Gulf Islands of over $1 million.
The average price of single family homes sold in March in Greater Victoria was $597,176; the median price was lower at $529,625. The six-month average for single family homes was $591,439. The average price of all condominiums sold in March was $328,734; the average for the last six months was $332,552. The median was again lower at $300,000. The average price of all townhomes sold last month was $458,378; the six month average was $437,523. The median price was $411,500.
MLS® sales last month included 407 single family homes, 170 condominiums, 68 townhomes and 16 manufactured homes.
For more information on these statistics feel free to contact us of visit www.PropertiesinVictoria.com and click on Victoria Real Estate Market Update.
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals- Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Five Important Immigration Questions to Consider when Moving To Victoria BC Canada
Victoria is one of the most beautiful places in the world, with is temparate climate. mid range to luxury ocean front accomodations and its plethora of outdoor activities year round. It has all the possibilities of Vancouver, but at a smaller scale and with less rain. For these reasons as well as its relatively low real estate prices (locals may disagree) compared to other desirable places in the world people are emmigrating here from Europe, Asia and the US. With this influx of foriegn ownership there are many questions that a foreign national to Victoria may ask with regards to immigration, residency and ownership of property. Below is a newsletter put out by a local immigration laywer David Aujla discussing the Five Important Questions that foreign nationals ask.
FIVE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Over my years of practice, I have noted that there are five questions that foreign nationals usually ask prior to applying for immigration. Here are the questions and the answers:
1. Will buying a house or a business help my immigration to Canada?
Buying a house does not increase chances of entry, but nor does it hurt. The purchase of a home certainly shows a connection to Canada and the home is ultimately treated as a part of the overall net worth of the individual, but simply owning a house and living here as a visitor will not affect the selection process.
Buying a business, however, could result in a faster entry into Canada based on a temporary work permit. CAUTION! Buying a business must be part of a comprehensive immigration strategy. The purchase must be strategized with other qualifying factors, such as overall asset base, the projected performance of the business and previous business experience. These important aspects are examined and must be approved by the provincial government and/or the federal immigration department before any business is purchased. It is best to seek professional taxation and legal advice prior to purchasing a home or business.
2. As a foreigner can I get a mortgage?
The answer is yes. The requirements for obtaining a mortgage to finance a purchase, whether a home or a business will depend on the institution with which the foreign national will do business. Generally speaking, there is usually not a problem in securing mortgages with more-established financial institutions. These institutions will usually require a letter of introduction from the previous banking facility with which the foreigner has done business in his or her own home country. Previous income in the home country will also be verified. Also, institutions may require a greater percentage of the purchase price as a down payment.
3. How long can I stay in Canada? (Can't I just go out for a day and come back?)
Generally, a person is allowed a six month entry as a visitor. If a second home is purchased, one can bring in a reasonable amount of furniture as a "seasonal resident" without paying any duty. There is no corresponding regulation in the immigration act (IRPA) that states the person has to leave for six months before returning, so multiple entries can be allowed. CAUTION! You cannot "flagpole" continuously. Flagpoling means leaving Canada for a few days and then returning to Canada. Although such re-entry may be allowed on one or two occasions, the person does run a risk of being refused entry into Canada because he or she is living in Canada as a resident under the guise of being a visitor. The foreign national must maintain substantial roots with his or her home country. See the following website: http://www.victorialaw.com/details/articles/Flagpoling.pdf.
4. If I rent out my home, what are the tax implications?
Occasionally, foreign nationals will purchase a home, reside in it for a few months of the year and rent it out for the balance. NOTE: Special tax rules do apply to such situations and Canadian tax returns must be filed by the foreigner. In fact, if the taxation payments are not set up properly, the foreign landlord will be required to pay 25% of the net rental income per month to the tax department as a holdback until the tax returns are filed. However, such a drastic reduction of rent can be avoided if a Canadian resident is appointed on behalf of the foreign national to make the filings at the end of the year. CAUTION! When selling a residence, a foreign national must file a clearance certificate well in advance of the sale or there can be up to a twenty five percent holdback of the full selling price until the clearance certificate is obtained from the tax department.
5. Can I retire in Canada?
There is no retirement category under the immigration regulations. Such an avenue did once exist, but the retirement avenue of immigration was phased out in the late 1980s.
If an individual is buying a home with the view of ultimately retiring here, it is important to seek legal immigration advice immediately. Qualifying for immigration is time sensitive in that points are awarded based on the number of years of experience in both business and in work as well as the age factor. It is important that as soon as individuals are considering purchasing a home here in Canada that they seek immediate immigration legal advice to ensure that a proper strategy exists for the potential permanent entry in the future. There are also health and age-related questions which may impact the admissibility.
See the following website: http://www.victorialaw.com/details/articles/retirees.php
DAVID AUJLA
Canadian Immigration Lawyer
www.victorialaw.com
If you are planning on making a move here either from within Canada or from outside its borders please contact the Properties In Victoria Professionals team. We will not only help and educate you on the market her in Victoria, but we also have connections such as David Ajula who can help you with other professional matters
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals - Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
FIVE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Over my years of practice, I have noted that there are five questions that foreign nationals usually ask prior to applying for immigration. Here are the questions and the answers:
1. Will buying a house or a business help my immigration to Canada?
Buying a house does not increase chances of entry, but nor does it hurt. The purchase of a home certainly shows a connection to Canada and the home is ultimately treated as a part of the overall net worth of the individual, but simply owning a house and living here as a visitor will not affect the selection process.
Buying a business, however, could result in a faster entry into Canada based on a temporary work permit. CAUTION! Buying a business must be part of a comprehensive immigration strategy. The purchase must be strategized with other qualifying factors, such as overall asset base, the projected performance of the business and previous business experience. These important aspects are examined and must be approved by the provincial government and/or the federal immigration department before any business is purchased. It is best to seek professional taxation and legal advice prior to purchasing a home or business.
2. As a foreigner can I get a mortgage?
The answer is yes. The requirements for obtaining a mortgage to finance a purchase, whether a home or a business will depend on the institution with which the foreign national will do business. Generally speaking, there is usually not a problem in securing mortgages with more-established financial institutions. These institutions will usually require a letter of introduction from the previous banking facility with which the foreigner has done business in his or her own home country. Previous income in the home country will also be verified. Also, institutions may require a greater percentage of the purchase price as a down payment.
3. How long can I stay in Canada? (Can't I just go out for a day and come back?)
Generally, a person is allowed a six month entry as a visitor. If a second home is purchased, one can bring in a reasonable amount of furniture as a "seasonal resident" without paying any duty. There is no corresponding regulation in the immigration act (IRPA) that states the person has to leave for six months before returning, so multiple entries can be allowed. CAUTION! You cannot "flagpole" continuously. Flagpoling means leaving Canada for a few days and then returning to Canada. Although such re-entry may be allowed on one or two occasions, the person does run a risk of being refused entry into Canada because he or she is living in Canada as a resident under the guise of being a visitor. The foreign national must maintain substantial roots with his or her home country. See the following website: http://www.victorialaw.com/details/articles/Flagpoling.pdf.
4. If I rent out my home, what are the tax implications?
Occasionally, foreign nationals will purchase a home, reside in it for a few months of the year and rent it out for the balance. NOTE: Special tax rules do apply to such situations and Canadian tax returns must be filed by the foreigner. In fact, if the taxation payments are not set up properly, the foreign landlord will be required to pay 25% of the net rental income per month to the tax department as a holdback until the tax returns are filed. However, such a drastic reduction of rent can be avoided if a Canadian resident is appointed on behalf of the foreign national to make the filings at the end of the year. CAUTION! When selling a residence, a foreign national must file a clearance certificate well in advance of the sale or there can be up to a twenty five percent holdback of the full selling price until the clearance certificate is obtained from the tax department.
5. Can I retire in Canada?
There is no retirement category under the immigration regulations. Such an avenue did once exist, but the retirement avenue of immigration was phased out in the late 1980s.
If an individual is buying a home with the view of ultimately retiring here, it is important to seek legal immigration advice immediately. Qualifying for immigration is time sensitive in that points are awarded based on the number of years of experience in both business and in work as well as the age factor. It is important that as soon as individuals are considering purchasing a home here in Canada that they seek immediate immigration legal advice to ensure that a proper strategy exists for the potential permanent entry in the future. There are also health and age-related questions which may impact the admissibility.
See the following website: http://www.victorialaw.com/details/articles/retirees.php
DAVID AUJLA
Canadian Immigration Lawyer
www.victorialaw.com
If you are planning on making a move here either from within Canada or from outside its borders please contact the Properties In Victoria Professionals team. We will not only help and educate you on the market her in Victoria, but we also have connections such as David Ajula who can help you with other professional matters
Cheers
Bill
Bill Ethier B.Sc - REALTOR®
Properties in Victoria Professionals - Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty
Bill has been a REALTOR® in Victoria since 2006. Originally from the Vancouver area, Bill moved to Victoria to attend the University of Victoria where he received his Bachelor of Science. Not only does Bill have a wealth of real estate knowledge he is also an active member of the community. He is a member of Triple Shot Cycling Club, Island Road Racers and is the Race Director for the Sooke River 10K.
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